Search - Merzbow :: Higanbana

Last Merzbow Release of '07

Dadaesque | Brisbane, QLD, Australia | 04/21/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Higanbana, named after a poisonous Japanese flower, shows a very developed sound from Merzbow. Combining the modern digital noise with Masami's EMS Synthi 'A', the tracks have a dark, urgent feel.



The opening track, Cluster Amaryllis, starts with synthesiser noise with reverb making it sound like it was recorded somewhere underground. It then transforms into Masami's trademark screeching feedback with other noise in the background. Urgent siren noises build up to ear-piercing tone before fading to soft noise loops taking on a near rythmic quality. Screaming feedback comes back into the mix, while metal-on-metal percussion come in at irregular intervals until the fade-out at nearly 30 minutes.



Black Shiny Feather continues in a similar vein but explores different textures and utilises psychedelic pulses of noise and contains more quieter parts. After several minutes it starts feeling like a standard Merzbow track with more urgent alarm sounds mixed with feedback and noise until it fades instead of an abrupt finish like other Merzbow tracks.



Path With No End begins with noise loops with high pitch sounds which transform into synthesiser noises. Screaming feedback comes several minutes into the mix. The track features edited samples from Merzbow's pet chicken (credited as Ukons or Silky Feather).



In parts the release sounds a bit like early Merzbow loops while combining elements of Merzbow's recent work of Animal related releases and digital sound. Overall Higanbana is a solid release, combining the sound of Merzbow's recent noise phases together into the one cd."